2024-11318. Addition of Aruba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Timor-Leste, and Yemen to the List of Regions Affected by Screwworm  

  • Start Preamble Start Printed Page 45626

    AGENCY:

    Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

    ACTION:

    Notice.

    SUMMARY:

    We are advising the public that we have added Aruba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Timor-Leste, and Yemen to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list maintained on the APHIS website of regions considered affected with screwworm. We took this action because of the confirmation of screwworm in these regions.

    DATES:

    Aruba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Timor-Leste, and Yemen were added to the list of regions considered affected with screwworm effective June 8, 2022.

    Start Further Info

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Dr. Ingrid Kotowski, APHIS Veterinary Services, Regionalization Evaluation Services, 920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606; telephone: (919) 855-7732; email: AskRegionalization@usda.gov.

    End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 (referred to below as the regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of certain animals into the United States to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases and pests of livestock. Subparts C, D, E, and F of the regulations govern the importation of horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs, respectively.

    Horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs may be imported into the United States from the regions where screwworm is considered to exist only if they are inspected and, if necessary, treated for screwworm according to the conditions outlined in the regulations for each type of animal. The requirements for horses are set out in § 93.308(a)(3) and include not only pre-embarkation and post-arrival inspection and treatment requirements, but also quarantine in the United States for 7 days after arrival, and examination by a veterinarian before release from quarantine. The requirements for ruminants and swine are set out in §§ 93.405(a)(3) and 93.505(b) and are the same as for horses, other than the 7-day quarantine and final examination of the animal. The requirements for dogs are set out in § 93.600 and require that all dogs from affected regions be inspected and, if necessary, treated before importation.

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) maintains a list of regions APHIS considers affected with screwworm on its website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/​aphis/​ourfocus/​animalhealth/​animal-and-animal-product-import-information/​animal-health-status-of-regions/​. APHIS will add a region to the list upon determining that screwworm exists in the region based on reports we receive of detections of the pest from veterinary officials of the exporting country, from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), or from other sources the Administrator determines to be reliable.

    Screwworm is reported on the WOAH website as having occurred in Aruba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Timor-Leste, and Yemen in at least one biannual WOAH reporting period since at least 2005, and APHIS has not confirmed that screwworm was subsequently eradicated from any of these regions. Accordingly, on June 8, 2022, APHIS added Aruba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Timor-Leste, and Yemen to the list of regions APHIS considers affected with screwworm. As a result, horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs from these regions are subject to APHIS import restrictions designed to mitigate risk of screwworm introduction into the United States.

    Authority:7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301-8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

    Start Signature

    Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of May 2024.

    Michael Watson,

    Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

    End Signature End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. 2024-11318 Filed 5-22-24; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

Document Information

Effective Date:
6/8/2022
Published:
05/23/2024
Department:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
2024-11318
Dates:
Aruba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Timor-Leste, and Yemen were added to the list of regions considered affected with screwworm effective June 8, 2022.
Pages:
45626-45626 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. APHIS-2022-0058
PDF File:
2024-11318.pdf